Sitting at 7-5 with just four games remaining, the New York Jets need to make sure these three areas are spot on as they charge for a tournament spot.
By Jeff Jarboe
One weeks after despair was the only mood traveling through the locker room air, the Jets are now right back in the thick of the AFC Wild Card chase.
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The Jets now head into their Week 14 matchup with the Tennessee Titans as the sixth and final Wild Card team, but there is much more work to be done. With Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Houston right on their tails, the New York Jets have to be nearly perfect in their final four games, and here is how they’re going to do that.
Here are the Jets top three keys to securing a tournament spot:
1. Don’t give up on the running game
The obvious first key for Bowles and the Jets: get Chris Ivory going!
Ivory started out the year hot rushing for 460 yards in the first four games (5.5 ypc) and then got injured, hit a rough stretch of games and has improved in the last four weeks as his hamstring healed, rushing for 269 yards in the last four games on just 57 carries (4.7 ypc).
With Ivory’s hamstring seemingly healed for the time being the Jets have to do everything they can to get him the ball for two reasons: A.) If they’re going to win the next four games (or at least two or three of them) and secure an AFC Wild Card seat, they’re going to do it on the ground.
Tennessee’s (Wk. 14), Dallas’ (Wk. 15) and Buffalo’s (Wk. 17) defense all rank a middling 16th, 15th and 14th in the league against the run, respectively, while New England (Wk. 16) ranks 11th.
Point being, the Jets have an advantage. B.) If the Jets do get into the playoffs, it’s better they have their beast mode running back head into the divisional round with some momentum. Get number 33 going. Remind teams that this offense is not just Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker; they can, and will run the ball whenever they want to.
2. Stay healthy in the secondary and overall aggressive on defense
After missing the last two weeks with a concussion he suffered against Houston – a game in which DeAndre Hopkins torched him for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns – Darrelle Revis is set to return to the Jets secondary this Sunday against Tennessee. Marcus Williams on the other hand, remains questionable as he rehabs a knee sprain he suffered against Miami.
Though they’re both close to returning to the field, Revis and Williams’ injuries continue a concerning trend of Jets defensive backs getting injured this season. It began when back-up safety Jaiquawn Jarrett was lost for the season to a knee injury, and continued when Calvin Pryor III went down against New England with a bad high ankle sprain. Pryor missed five weeks, and the Jets have been forced to rely on second-year safety Dion Bailey and undrafted free agent Rontez Miles to fill the voids. While both Bailey and Miles have played well, the continuing trend of injuries in the secondary is something the Jets have to put to a stop as they chase an AFC Wild Card spot.
Bowles’s defense, similar to the defense Rex Ryan had in place during his time in the Big Apple, revolves around using creative blitz packages to force turnovers into the secondary. However, they can’t do this if their top safeties and corners are standing on the sidelines. The trio of Revis, Williams and Pryor has to stay healthy if this defense wants to bring pressure. Depth in the secondary is going to be crucial if and when they play teams like New England, Pittsburgh and/or Kansas City in the playoffs.
3. Protect Fitzpatrick and let him work his magic
We saw it in his eyes against Houston when he plowed into the endzone late in the fourth quarter (though they ended up losing), and we saw it again this past week against the Giants when he took off running on fourth and six to extend the drive and tie the game–FitzMagic thrives in the clutch.
Having played in the NFL for 11 seasons now, with six different teams, Fitzpatrick simply doesn’t seem phased by the pressure of a late-game must-win situation. He has Gailey’s offense down to a T, he’s comfortable in the pocket, he recognizes the blitzes and knows when to adjust. He’s providing this Jets team with everything they lacked in the last seven years with Geno Smith and Mark Sanchez under center. Finally, these guys have someone to lead on offense.
The key is going to be protecting him.
Currently, Fitz is the least sacked quarterback in the league but that’s more of a testament to Gailey’s quick-hitting passing game than it is to the Jets offensive line. As a unit the offensive line has been decent this season. Nick Mangold has been battling injuries but has been his usual self when healthy, James Carpenter has been solid in both the running and passing game, and Brian Winters has been formidable at right guard. D’Brickashaw Ferguson however, has fallen victim to far too many false start and holding calls this season, and has gotten beat repeatedly when matched up against speedy edge rushers.
As the Jets get set for the final quarter of the season and their chase for a seat at the AFC playoff table to begin, remaining disciplined and consistent on the O-line is critical. Because Chris Ivory, Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker may be the Jets best weapons on offense, but none of them can succeed without Fitzpatrick leading them.